The side jobs most often suggested for nurses are per diem shifts, substitute school nursing, teaching, CPR and first aid instruction, freelance health writing, remote medical billing and coding, and telehealth nursing. Which one fits depends on how many hours you can add, which license and experience it requires, and whether you want to stay close to bedside care.
What are the best side jobs for nurses?
No single job is named best. LivePlan, the blog of a business-planning software company, lists 13 side hustles for nurses based on typical skills and current market demand. Lamar University’s article “6 Side Hustles for Nurses” lists six, and it appears on a page that also promotes the university’s RN-to-BSN program.
| Side job | What it involves | What the source says you need |
|---|---|---|
| Per diem nurse (Lamar) | Shifts you pick up through job postings or staffing agencies, and skip when you need to | Not listed; work through postings or an agency |
| Substitute school nurse (Lamar) | Covering school nursing, with regular hours | Regular hours are listed as a perk, per Lamar |
| Nurse consultant (Lamar) | Consulting, for example on workplace wellness | A passion for health and wellness, per Lamar’s example |
| Nurse instructor (Lamar) | Teaching in certified nursing assistant programs | Associate or bachelor’s degree may be enough for CNA programs; nursing faculty roles typically require an advanced degree |
| Telehealth nurse (LivePlan) | Consultations, education and follow-up by video and phone | Typically 3-5 years of clinical experience and a valid nursing license |
| Immunization nurse (LivePlan) | Giving vaccines in clinics, schools and workplaces, part-time or per diem | Valid license and vaccine experience, plus training in vaccine storage, handling and administration |
| Event medical staff (LivePlan) | Medical cover for concerts, sporting events and camps | An active nursing license and some clinical experience |
| First aid or CPR instructor (LivePlan) | Teaching classes to businesses, community groups and schools | A certification course through a recognized provider such as the American Red Cross or American Heart Association |
| Medical billing and coding (LivePlan) | Reviewing records, insurance details and payments | A medical billing training program and the Certified Professional Biller exam |
| Health and wellness writer (LivePlan) | Freelance articles for websites, blogs and publications | A portfolio of writing samples; LivePlan names Upwork and Fiverr as places to find work |
| Health coach (LivePlan) | One-on-one or group coaching on nutrition, exercise and stress | A certification from the National Society of Health Coaches or the American Holistic Nurses Association |
Immunization nursing is a good fit if you want part-time or per diem work. LivePlan says you can find it through staffing agencies, healthcare organizations and public health departments.
How much can a side job pay a nurse?
Lamar’s article cites the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for a 2018 median salary of $71,730 per year for RNs, compared with $38,640 for all workers. That is a full-time baseline, not a side-job rate. The side-job hourly figures in the same article are below, each with the date it was cited.
| Role (as listed in Lamar’s article) | Hourly figure | Source and date cited |
|---|---|---|
| Per diem nurse | $47 an hour | ZipRecruiter, February 2020 |
| Nurse consultant | $40 an hour (average) | Salary.com, January 2020 |
| Geriatric care manager | $34.08 an hour (average) | PayScale, February 2020 |
| Substitute school nurse | $28.66 an hour (average) | PayScale, February 2020 |
| CNA instructor | $26 an hour (average) | ZipRecruiter, February 2020 |
These rates are from 2020. Check current pay on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Registered Nurses page and in live job postings before you plan a budget around them. To turn an hourly rate into a monthly total, multiply it by the hours you can truly work, after travel and rest. Lamar notes that RNs typically work three 12-hour shifts a week, which leaves four days to fit in a side job.
Check benefits before you accept. Lamar’s article says per diem RNs typically earn more per hour because employers generally do not include benefits. Ask whether health insurance, paid time off or retirement contributions come with the job, since a higher hourly rate may not replace them.
How many hours can you add without hurting your health?
Working hours come up again and again in the research. In a 2015 study of 990 nurses and midwives in Victoria, Australia, the 2015 nurse job preferences study found that autonomy, working hours, and processes to deal with violence and bullying were valued most highly. Those surveyed would need an extra 24% in pay to increase their working hours by 10%.
A 2018 study of 190 registered nurses in California, the 2018 rural and urban job preferences study, found that earnings were important, but nurses were willing to give up earnings to secure other job characteristics. Scheduling was one of the eight factors it identified.
For a squeezed budget, count the side job’s hours against the time you need for rest, family and your main shifts. A shift on your days off changes your week more than the pay line suggests.
If extra income changes your coverage, check your care options too. Medicare.gov’s Federally Qualified Health Center page says these centers “offer lower fees if you have limited income.” If stress is building, SAMHSA’s free and low-cost treatment page lists options for mental health and substance use care.
Which side jobs can you do from home or online?
- Telehealth nurse. LivePlan describes consultations by video and phone, which lets you work remotely and set your own schedule. It says you typically need 3-5 years of clinical experience and a valid nursing license.
- Medical billing and coding. LivePlan says this role “offers the possibility of remote work with steady, predictable hours.” You would need a training program and the Certified Professional Biller exam.
- Freelance health writing. You build a portfolio and pitch clients, with work found on freelance platforms or directly with publications.
- Online tutoring or CPR instruction. LivePlan says you can tutor nursing students online or through social media, and that CPR classes can be taught “either in person or online.”
What other jobs can you do with an RN?
Several roles on these lists use your nursing background without bedside work: nurse consultant, nurse instructor, medical billing and coding, and health and wellness writing. Lactation consultant and health coach need new certification first. LivePlan names the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners for the lactation exam, and the National Society of Health Coaches or the American Holistic Nurses Association for health coaching.
Can a side job help you explore leaving nursing?
Yes, and Lamar’s article gives this as one of the main reasons. It says a side job is one way to “explore other options and stay energized.” It also quotes HealthCare Pros: per diem nursing lets you “try before you buy.” A per diem shift, a teaching role or an immunization shift lets you test a new setting before you commit to it.
What do nurses value in their jobs?
The clearest research here is the 2015 study of nurses and midwives in Victoria, Australia, linked above. Its authors said policies to improve retention and job satisfaction should first focus on autonomy, processes to deal with violence and bullying, and reasonable working hours. It covers job preferences in one region of Australia and gives no quit rate, so it cannot tell you why nurses in your area might leave.
How do you check a side job or training before you pay?
Look up any certifying body on its own website, not through a link in an ad. LivePlan names the American Red Cross and American Heart Association for CPR and first aid, the National League for Nursing for nursing instructor certification at community colleges, and the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners for lactation. Ask any employer or agency for pay, hours and benefits in writing before you start.
What should you do this week?
- Write down your current weekly hours and the days you need off for rest.
- Match each option’s license and experience requirement against what you already hold.
- Ask any agency or employer whether the hourly rate includes benefits.
- Check your current employer’s rules on outside work before you accept a shift.
- For any paid course, confirm the certifying body on its own website before you pay.
Questions to ask your clinician or employer
- Given my current schedule, how many extra hours could I add before my health or sleep is affected?
- If I manage a health condition, how would extra shifts change my treatment plan?
- Does my employer’s insurance still cover me if I work another job?
By Gut, Gum and Nail Health Editorial Team